Courtney Love Covers Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” At Sundance Show

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During a last-minute concert in Park City, Utah, during this year’s Sundance Film Festival, former Hole frontwoman Courtney Love surprised the audience with a cover version of rapper Jay-Z’s 2004 hip-hop hit, “99 Problems.”

As reported in the Salt Lake City Weekly, Love’s January 21 set (which was only announced 12 hours in advance) was heavy on older Hole favorites like “Malibu,” “Northern Star” and “Miss World” next to more recent songs like “Skinny Little B—-,” from the band’s 2010 full-length, Nobody’s Daughter.

Love’s version of the Jay-Z song was the show’s most unexpected moment, with the singer performing the song as an acoustic ballad, accompanying herself on the guitar.

“It either sucks or it’s genius, I don’t know,” Love told the crowd before launching into “99 Problems,” barely recognizable until she reached the title-quoting chorus (watch fan-shot video of the performance here). Her version is faithful enough that Love drops at least one “n-bomb” found in Jay-Z’s original lyrics.

During her time in Park City during Sundance, Love was the subject of a sprawling profile where she discussed her ongoing feud with Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, specifically regarding Nirvana royalties, that band led by Love’s late husband Kurt Cobain.

“So the problem with me and Dave is, he is mindlessly rich just from the Foo Fighters,” she told ABC News. “My question is, why does he need all the Nirvana money?”

Love told Rolling Stone late last year that she planned on releasing a new single, “This is War,” in February of this year, adding that “it’s probably the greatest rock song I’ve ever heard.”